GAMEDAY: Wild vs. St. Louis

The Minnesota Wild skates in its penultimate preseason game today, hosting the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center. The game is the first in a home-and-home series against the new Central Division rival.

Minnesota is coming off a 2-1 shootout win on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Keith Ballard scored the team’s lone goal, while goaltender Josh Harding made 20 saves. Harding was perfect in the shootout, stopping all three Columbus attempts and Jason Zucker netted the winner.

Yesterday, Minnesota reduced its training camp roster to 28 players. Also absent from practice was Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu because his fiancée, Helena, went into labor and gave birth to a baby girl. He is expected to play tonight.

Here is an updated list of players that will play in tonight's game; the lines have yet to be set:

With the Wild reassigning half of its camp yesterday, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. Minnesota Wild bench boss Mike Yeo and the rest of the organization’s brain trust have two games and a handful of practices to evaluate who will be on the opening night roster on Oct. 3 when the team hosts the Los Angeles Kings. Expect players on the bubble to try and win jobs tonight and in the next few days.